Washington vs. Rutgers Game Preview

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New head coach Chris Ash is trying to instill a different attitude with more energy and more consistency on both sides of the ball. That starts with a nothing-really-to-lose mentality making the trip across the country to Seattle. With a new look, new coaching staff, and new team, Rutgers is still a wee bit of a mystery.

Can the Scarlet Knights play a little smashmouth? Not really against the Dawg D, but the O line should be solid and the skill players just good enough and experienced enough to hold up well in what should be a super-charged environment.

QB Chris Laviano has a nice group of receivers to work with, and even though the ground game didn’t work well last year, the quicker-tempo should be a bit more effective.

More than anything else, the pressure is all on Washington to not only be good, but dominant. The longer Rutgers can just hang around, the more the Huskies might tighten up.

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Why Washington Will Win

The defense should be a force if it plays as well as advertised.

Yeah, Rutgers has a great-looking group of receivers, but Washington’s secondary is among the best in the country.

Yeah, the running game and backfield has experience and good potential, but the Huskies should be a brick wall all season long against the run – this line isn’t going to get moved.

Yeah, the Scarlet Knight defensive front should be better – especially with the return of Darius Hamilton on the inside – but Myles Gaskin and the Washington running game should be able to control the mediocre Rutgers linebackers.

The Huskies can grind it out a bit with the ground game and rely on defense and special teams and keep control all game long. They aren’t going to have to take many chances, and they should be able to keep things simple and get away with the win.

What’s Going To Happen?

Rutgers is going to be better this season, but it still has a long way to go to be dangerous in the Big Ten. Washington has the talent and experience to win the Pac-12 title – and it might be about ready to show it off.

The Huskies will flex their muscle early, especially on defense to take over the game right away, but Rutgers won’t quit. A few Scarlet Knight second half scores will make the final score look better than the actual game.